Flexible and efficient (hydrometallurgical) recycling of Li-ion batteries of different chemistry

Research Project
, 2015
– 2018

Lithium accumulators (LiA) are valuable secondary raw material sources of metals. LiA contain also different organic compounds. Usually PVDF is used as a binder for the active material (metal bearing material) to be attached with the electrode foils. The presence of the binder affects mechanical separation processes and the leaching process. The project will study the possibilities of the organic compounds removal by pyrolysis with focus on the effects of the thermal pre-treatment on the active material and thus on the hydrometallurgical process. The separation of the active material from the foils will be study by sieving analysis. Improved separation will positively affect the hydrometallurgical process. Project also aims to develop flexible hydrometallurgical technology for recovery of the metals from LiA. The technology will be able to adapt to different chemistries used for LiA. Developed technology will be tested in pilot plant scale equipment already existing at our department.